Food
for thought from the NorthA
press conference addressed by the battle-hardened and seasoned leader of
the EPDP and Minister for Northern Development, Rehabilitation and
Reconstruction of the North and North-East Tamil Affairs, Douglas
Devananda, had many a thought-provoking point. To begin with, he virtually
endorsed the widely held view that the Government's proscription of the
LTTE shouldn't be considered a barrier to entering negotiations, by the
Tigers. "The ban imposed by the Government is not an impediment for
the LTTE, to enter the negotiations, if they genuinely care for the
majority of the Tamil population in the North, as they proclaim from the
roof tops," Devananda was quoted saying.

These
are the observations of a political leader who has been immersed in the
stormy politics of the North over the past twenty years or more. He is
also no stranger to the Northern people and reads the LTTE mind with
considerable penetration. As Devananda rightly points out, it is left to
the Tamil people to decide who their representatives are. This could be
determined only at an election for there is no better test of the public
pulse than the democratic process.

This
being the case, the LTTE insistence on the de-proscription seems to be a
delaying tactic. This wouldn't come as a surprise for the experienced
Tiger watcher. Unless and until supremacy of status is attributed to the
LTTE, they would shun all political processes, which would relegate them
to an insignificant position. Hence their insistence on being considered
the sole representatives of the Tamil people.

However
in the world of democracy, only those elected at the polls could be
considered popular representatives of the people. Only those elected by
the people at a free and fair election could be considered the legitimate
representatives of the people. Needless to say, the Tigers fail to meet
these vital democratic criteria.

We
suggest that careful thought to Devananda's observation that at the last
election more people cast their votes in Jaffna than at any previous
election. This showed an eagerness on the part of the people to enter the
democratic process.

This
is one reason why the Tigers prefer to stall the process of negotiations.
They rightly judge that they wouldn't be accepted by the people in a
democratic culture. However, it is gladdening to note that the Government
is providing the North with the necessary development assistance to build
a stable socio-economic foundation.

The
steady assistance by the Government is enabling the people of the North to
get back on their feet. The development ventures and welfare schemes
established by Minister Devananda are proof of this. A continuation of
this process could ensure the marginalisation of the extremists.

Playing
politics with educationThe
decision of the cabinet of ministers not to have private universities in
Sri Lanka will take the wind off the sails of university student activists
who have in recent weeks been attempting to make capital of the issue and
agitating on campuses and in public.

Establishment
of private institutes of higher education has much of the time been looked
upon suspiciously by the advocates of free education as well beneficiaries
of the free education system. Undergraduates who after long years of hard
work have gained entry to campuses - most of them having undergone much
deprivation - fear that those private universities will be a threat to
their future prospects of employment. All these fears as well as
prejudices were expressed when the Private Medical College was functioning
and it provided a rallying point for JVP activists during their second
insurrection. The hasty announcement of the government, denying the
intention to go ahead with these private education institutions, is
indicative of the politically explosive potential of the issue.

But
rational analysis will reveal that although there have been no private
universities, the more privileged students have always had access to
foreign universities and this system is still prevailing.

Even
during the times of austere Sri Lankan socialism when even sitting for
examinations of British schools of music was banned - in order to conserve
‘valuable foreign exchange’ - socialist leaders found ways to educate
their children in foreign universities. For example, the three children of
the Bandaranaikes and even the present minister of higher education, Mr.
Indika Gunawardena, are graduates of foreign universities. The less
fortunate of that time either had to enter the sole University of Ceylon
or seek employment.

Today,
there is a vast difference. There are private ‘international schools’
that are catering to foreign university entrance examinations, which the
affluent brood finds, refuge in. The super rich can even send their
children to prestigious private secondary schools abroad. After graduation
or even on doing their post-graduate degrees, they return home and find
lucrative jobs in the private sector. And that’s where the highly paid
jobs are. Others from Ivy League universities of America or from Oxbridge
find places even in the top-most rungs of government administration.

Perhaps,
some of these students may have qualified to enter Sri Lankan
universities. Others not. But most of them would not have dared enter the
torture chambers that universities are today. It is argued that those who
seek education abroad lessen the pressure on state universities and enable
more of the less affluent students to gain entry to state
universities.

Thus,
whether student activists are ensuring a better chance in life for
themselves by preventing opening of private universities needs deep
introspection.

The
sudden announcement by the government that it will not permit opening of
private universities appears to be a measure taken to ward off another
looming political crisis with the government having its plate full of
crises of a varied assortment. But should it be so?

Our
front page today carries a report, which quotes the body representative of
university lecturers, saying that at present the campuses are short of 600
lecturers. The shortage exists particularly in the faculties of medicine
and engineering in the Ruhuna and Peradeniya universities, it is said.

This
shortage of university teachers is by itself indicative of the lack of
high quality graduates. While there are plenty of graduates with third
class liberal arts degrees, there is a shortage of graduates with first or
second-class degrees, particularly, in medicine and engineering, who are
qualified to apply for these posts.

It
need hardly be stressed that the government is resorting to ad hoc
measures to stave off political crises developing in campuses. What should
be done is to consider the interests of the nation by projecting the
required number of qualified specialists in various fields. If the state
universities are unable to meet that demand, then private institutions
should be set up that could meet the challenge at no extra expense to the
state.

It
is well known that Sri Lankans who graduate abroad are reluctant to come
home because of the comparative poor salaries paid here. Thus, it may be
in the interests of the nation to open up private universities that could
meet these demands.

If
the state cannot afford to provide higher education to all those who
demand it, then the obvious solution is to let the private sector come in.
To prevent that is to deny the right of a student to higher education.

A
nation that plays politics with its educational system is obviously
courting disaster.

Playing
politics with educationIt was only last Thursday
that Higher Education Minister Indika Gunawardena had the courage to say
something in public for some time, (for according to many a scribe it is
most difficult to get a comment from him) when he declared that government
would not privatise national universities or allow the setting up of
private universities.

At
a meeting with student leaders in Parliament, the Minister assured that
government would not go ahead with the proposed Private Universities Bill.
But his courage seems to be wrongly placed. Are we a nation of unthinking
people to say no to more places of higher learning? Especially in a
situation where government can ill afford to set up new universities, we
should welcome with open arms initiatives taken by the private sector in
such endeavours. Saboteurs should not be allowed in universities, who
despite their learning are small minded, as was clearly exposed in the not
too distant past, to hold the country to ransom.

Minister
Indika Gunawardena, may have been dictated to on this matter by his
Cabinet colleagues. But then there are ministers of the calibre of A. H.
M. Fowzie and Mangala Samaraweera who have stood up to their convictions
against all odds. In the case of the latter he has stood firm in his
endeavour to make urban areas free of unauthorised structures, even when
ranged against powerful forces. So the Higher Education Minister should
have courage to tell the students where to get off.

At
the same time we are not asking the government to be a Uncle Tom serving
the dictates of the twin sisters in Washington. Let not reforms proposed
by lending institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund harm the non-fee levying national universities or any section of the
free education system. The free education system, along with free health
care, despite major shortcomings, have done wonders to raise the country
to a respectable status in human development, almost on par with affluent
countries.

Such
achievements, which are now internationally recognised and praised, were
made possible due to the high priority accorded to both sectors by
successive governments since independence. This has also led to Sri Lanka
being held as a model for other developing countries by world bodies.

Let
our undergraduates benefit to the maximum form their hard earned places in
our free varsities, as many of them hailing from the backwoods, have
really sweated to gain entry to universities amidst many disadvantages.
Let them have their say without goon squads trying to teach them lessons,
while the rest of the country has its way.

It
is a well-known fact that hundreds of Sri Lankan students go abroad for
higher education each year, as opportunities are limited here. Due to such
large numbers leaving our shores we not only lose huge sums in foreign
exchange, but many top brains among them are lost to the nation as they
are quickly snapped up by countries who readily recognise their worth.

It
was reported than in the computer field alone the country is in need of
25,000 Information Technology Specialists at present, but only about 2300
are available. So let us not go by narrow thinking.

It
was also reported that the Higher Education Ministry had appointed a
committee to look into possibilities of establishing private universities
or institutions, which grant foreign degrees to train specialists in
Information Technology. Let us hope the authorities will have the courage
to go ahead with it, without surrendering to time servers in the
universities who compromise their so called ideals no sooner they get
their qualifications and get top jobs.

We
like to ask where are the firebrands of yesteryear who painted gloom and
doom. Most often they are now in the mainstream.

Finally
we appeal to those students from behind the scene not to play politics
with our future generations, as acrimonious politics has been the root
cause of many an evil plaguing the country today.

If
we are to forge ahead in the field of education competing with other South
Asian countries it’s essential that we broaden our horizon by keeping
all options open.

By
restricting the rights of the citizens we would only produce a frustrated
lot which could cause enormous problems to the country in the long run.

Should
kalmunai be a separate district?People's
protests are being widely expressed against the SLMC proposal to carve out
a separate administrative district for Kalmunai.Nearly 2,000 strong farmers from Digamadulla area staged a strong
protest last Sunday.All
shops and business establishments put up their shutters on this day in
support of this protest.Black
flags and banners were also displayed in its support. This demand of the
SLMC on an obvious ethnic basis is most detrimental to all communities in
the country.

The
SLMC has no monopoly on the Muslims in this country.They belong to various other political parties as well.Such an extremely selfish and unwarranted demand will lead to
further ethnic dissension and add fuel to the current fires of disunity
already burning all round.

Indian
poachersNorthern
Navy Commander has said that Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan
waters have become a grave security threat in the North.This is done to these fishermen, transporting supplies to Tigers in
the guise of fishing.The
country's island situation has always been exposed to threats from Indian
illegal immigrants and smugglers.

Such
immigrants occupied coastal areas and they became permanent residents. The
concept of a traditional homeland was begun in this manner.When a war is being fought against Tigers it is most dangerous to
permit Indian fishermen into our territorial waters.Therefore, the Sri Lankan Navy should receive the close
co-operation of Indian coast guards to tackle this grave problem.This will ensure the safety of Indian fishermen fishing in their
areas and also help to immunize Tiger threats to Sri Lankan Navy.

Tiger
conditions & elephant no confidenceThe
LTTE wants the government to remove the ban imposed on it as a
pre-condition for peace talks.The
government says it is an unfair condition since Tigers earlier proposed to
hold peace talks unconditionally.Diverse
opinions are being expressed on this.Some are vehemently against de-proscribing of Tigers but not
against peace talks.They
maintain that talks should begin while the ban is in force.Some are against de-proscribing as well as holding peace talks.

Disputes
are seen in all political parties on this issue.Even within the government.Minister
Richard Pathirana has said the ban should be temporarily lifted to begin
peace talks.Meanwhile, some are attempting to have the Tiger ban lifted
and get the no confidence motion the UNP is to bring against the
government passed.Tamil
parties sympathetic towards Tigers think they will support the no
confidence motion, if the ban is not lifted.

The
LTTE is trying to show that the government is not sincere on peace talks
and is also trying to topple the government on this issue.

Dengue
comes backSeveral
cases of Dengue fever were reported from the Matara area.We recall the tall claims made by public health authorities about
the successful campaign they launched against the last outbreak of Dengue.If that campaign had more effective action than rhetoric and
publicity stunts, the present situation would not have recurred so soon.

We
also remember distinctly what a widespread threat the last outbreak of
Dengue was.Any preventive
action should deserve the unstinted support of the public.However, it is seen that the main responsibility lies with
public health authorities.They
should not slacken their preventive action and they should maintain
pressure on the public to co-operate and help in the continued efforts to
rid the country of this health hazard which is re-emerging frequently.

Severe
punishment for sexual offencesSexual
offences and child prostitution are on the increase daily.There is also talk of severely punishing such offenders and even
death penalty was advocated. UNP MP, A.H.M. Azwar recently tabled a
private member's motion in Parliament, calling for death penalty for
sexual offences.

The
Minister of Justicehas
agreed that this offence deserves deterrent punishment.Not willing to go upto the death sentence, the Minister proposes to
amend the Bail Act to prevent the bailing of suspected offenders.If this has to be done, the support of the Opposition, too, would
be needed.We hope, the Opposition will give its support for this
proposal.

Arrests
of fishermenThe
friendly ties between Sri Lanka and India, which date back to olden times,
have been slightly strained of late due to the issue of Indian fishermen
being arrested by Sri Lankan authorities.These fishermen venture into Sri Lankan waters, which are
shunned by local fishermen due to the war and security measures, though it
abounds in fish.

Meanwhile,
Sri Lankan fishermen have also been accused of poaching in Indian waters.50 of them are now in detention in India, suspected of entering
Indian waters illegally.The
Sri Lankan Navy arrested 39 Indian fishermen for entering Sri Lankan
waters.In this context, the
arrangements made for Sri Lankan and Indian officials to meet to discuss
this common problems are welcome.

Peace
- a dangerous trialSquabbling
amongst political parties has made it well nigh impossible to find a
political solution to the ethnic issue.The Norwegian Peace Initiative has run into several snags, with
both the government and the LTTE adopting hard-line approaches. Both
parties are engaged in finding excuses to justify their respective stands
with regard to starting peace talks.The government is influenced by majoritarian chauvinism. Norway is
unable to make any headway under these circumstances.

There
are even voices in the South which lament about the government allowing to
idle high value ammunition imported to fight the enemy.With the branding of peace lovers as peace brokers and the urging
for increased war activities, the future of not only the Tamils but also
the whole country is at stake.Peace
has been derailed and the roots of the peace tree have withered.Only snags and impediments are gaining ground.